an effort begun by benedict's much loved predecessor, pope john paul ii. mind you any comparison between benedict and celebrity pope is invidious. a point made by fair-minded editorial writers. sex abuse scandal in church, involving homosexual priests continue to march catholic teaching and carries with it a whiff of sulfur. pope paul the vi a warned satan had earned the temple of god. working to eradicate the stain of abuse and apologizing publicly to victims and their families. in a move long overdo he recently fired the morally challenged cardinal roger mahoney of the los angeles diocese. it must be said, however, that while the church enemies have warmed to the scandal, too often catholics and n name only have used it as an excuse to ignore the teachings of the faith they long abandoned. and benedict's rest anything says the authority of the church is ambiguous. speculation runs high who will lead more than a billion catholics. although a fruitless guessing game often fueled by conspiracy theories. whoever is chosen will face grave sin. just last week,